The illustrated growing guide
Marigold
Tagetes erecta / patula
Family Asteraceae
Grown as an annual
The companion-planting workhorse: French marigold ROOTS genuinely suppress root-knot nematodes (grow as a season-long cover, then till in). Also simply unkillable color.
Full Sun
Low water
Fast growth
Attracts butterflies
Attracts bees
None winter chillI
Overview
Will marigold suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what marigold actually needs.
Life cycleAnnualMarigold at a glance
Common marigold problems
- Spider Mites in drought
- Slugs on seedlings
- Botrytis on spent blooms
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow marigold: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate marigold
Marigold companion plants
Good companions
- EVERYTHING — roots suppress root-knot nematodes; plant throughout the veg garden
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The year
What marigold asks for, month by month.
The marigold year, month by month
BloomWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
The marigold year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb quiet month
- Mar quiet month
- Apr quiet month
- May bloom
- Jun quiet month
- Jul quiet month
- Aug quiet month
- Sep quiet month
- Oct quiet month
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Marigold in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer annual
- Nectary/insectary
What marigold is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of marigold, ruled as a catalogue.
Best marigold varieties & cultivars
French (small, bushy); African (pompom giants); 'Lemon Gem' (edible signet)
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to marigoldyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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Questions
Marigold questions, answered straight.
Is marigold safe for kids and pets?
Marigold is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
What grows well with marigold?
Proven companions include everything — roots suppress root-knot nematodes; plant throughout the veg garden — the full companion list, and what to keep away, is in the Growing tab above.
How do you propagate marigold?
From seed.
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Elsewhere
Where marigold sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily